Staff Directory

Jabbar R. Bennett, Ph.D. (he/him), is MSU’s vice president and chief diversity officer. Bennett works to advance MSU’s diversity, equity and inclusion strategic priorities along with staff in the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion and partnership among senior executives, deans, faculty, staff, students and alumni. Bennett is also a professor of medicine in the College of Human Medicine.

Prior to joining MSU in December 2020, Bennett served as the inaugural associate provost for diversity and inclusion, and chief diversity officer at Northwestern University. Previously, he worked as associate dean of the Graduate School, and associate dean for diversity in the Division of Biology and Medicine at Brown University. Bennett also held administrative appointments at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley, and served on the faculty at Harvard, Brown and Northwestern.

Bennett received a bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in Spanish from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and earned a doctoral degree in biomedical sciences from Meharry Medical College. Bennett completed postdoctoral research training at Harvard Medical School and is an alumnus of the Harvard University Administrative Fellows Program and Massachusetts Education Policy Fellowship Program. Listen to Bennett's welcome interview with Russ White.

---

BJ Abrams, J.D., Ph.D. (he/him), is the Assistant Vice President of the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion. Abrams oversees the office's daily operations, supports the advancement of institutional strategic priorities and bolsters internal and external constituent engagement, among other responsibilities.

Abrams most recently worked at MSU’s Facility for Rare Isotope Beams as its Chief Administrative Officer, where he provided leadership to the FRIB Laboratory while overseeing administrative functions across disciplines in support of the operation of FRIB as a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, or DOE-SC, scientific user facility. Abrams partnered with other senior leaders and managers to ensure that administrative functions were integrated and executed efficiently in accordance with federal and state requirements, as well as MSU and DOE-SC expectations and regulations.

Prior to his work at FRIB, Abrams worked in IDI as Director of Equal Opportunity and Inclusion and MSU's Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Officer. There, he was responsible for MSU's EEO and affirmative-action program and for ensuring that the university was in compliance with federal regulations. Abrams led the office's efforts to support campus units in advancing workforce diversity and equity. He developed, monitored and implemented the university's affirmative-action program as required by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.

Abrams earned his J.D. from Boston College, a Master of Science degree from Barry University and a Ph.D. from the University of New Mexico.

---

 

Evette Chavez (she/her) is the Fiscal and Human Resources Officer in the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion. She works closely with staff and community partners regarding fiscal and human resources matters. Additionally, Chavez provides support to the annual IDI university-wide programs.

Prior to joining IDI, she spent six years in the Office for Civil Rights & Title IX Education and Compliance and has worked at the university since 1980. Chavez has worked in various capacities during her tenure including the MSU Women’s Resource Center, College of Music, The Graduate School and the College of Veterinary Medicine to name a few. She has attended Lansing Community College.

---

 

Micaela Flores (she/her/ella) is the Assistant Director for the Diversity Research Network, or DRN, in the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, or IDI. She is responsible for providing managerial and operational support for the DRN, a cornerstone of support in the retention and success of Michigan State University faculty and scholars at the intersection of diversity and excellence. Flores is committed to upholding the DRN as a resource for enhancing research productivity, grant and publication output, and meaningful collaborative research opportunities.

Prior to joining IDI, Flores served as the Assistant Director of Admissions for the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, or DVM, program at the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine, where she also worked as the Recruitment, Admissions and Scholarship Counselor for the DVM program and the Advising, Outreach and Retention Coordinator under the King-Chavez-Parks Select Student Services grant. She also spent a few years working to increase college access in Detroit as a high school College Adviser with the MSU College Advising Corps and in Chicago, Illinois, as the College Access Coordinator at the University of Illinois System.

Flores earned her undergraduate degree in interdisciplinary studies in social science with a cognate in sociology and concentration in community relations, along with a specialization in Chicano/Latino studies as well as a master of arts in higher, adult and lifelong education with a graduate certificate in teaching and learning in postsecondary education from MSU.

---

 

Lisa Fuentes (she/her) is the Staff Assistant in the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion and joined the team in 2017. She works closely with the IDI directors and staff with a focus on program planning and coordination.

Prior to working joining IDI, she spent 17 years in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at MSU and has worked at the university since 1990. Fuentes has worked in various capacities during her tenure across academic and administrative departments. She attended Lansing Community College and Davenport College.

---

Florensio Hernandez (he/him) is the Outreach and Engagement Manager of the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion. Hernandez collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to implement initiatives that foster a more inclusive environment across the university and its community partners. In addition, he manages IDI’s awards portfolio, including the Excellence in Diversity Equity and Inclusion Awards, IDI Speaker Series, Summer Leadership Institute and Juneteenth, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and César Chávez and Dolores Huerta commemorative celebrations.

Hernandez previously served as Assistant Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the MSU Office of Admissions. In this position, he has successfully developed and managed yield programs to support student populations across Michigan. He also oversaw recruitment efforts in a territory spanning approximately 86 high schools across the state, among other key responsibilities.

A proud Spartan, Hernandez holds a master of arts in higher, adult and lifelong education, a bachelor of arts in political science/pre-law and a specialization in Chicano/Latino studies, all from Michigan State University.

Hernandez has a strong foundation in program planning, community engagement, stakeholder collaboration and cross-cultural communication. His expertise encompasses committee coordination, conflict resolution and coalition-building.

---

MSU Foundation Professor Deborah J. Johnson, Ph.D. (she/her), completed her doctorate at Northwestern University in human development and social policy. Currently a professor of human development and family studies, she joined the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion as a faculty associate in 2015 and has served as the inaugural Director of the Diversity Research Network since 2016. In 2020, Johnson served an interim term as Director of IDI.

Johnson leads the Diversity Research Network, a faculty-centered campus wide networking and resource entity. Her efforts support faculty through these resources and facilitation, fundraising, and a wide range of programming. She works with campus stakeholder units and interested faculty, staff and student organizations to develop training and education efforts that address diversity broadly, and racial literacy specifically. She also works with faculty and campus units to develop diversity best practices pertaining to the recruitment, advancement and retention of diverse faculty and academic leadership. 

Johnson's research emphasizes cultural adjustment and ethnic-racial dimensions of development in the area of racial/ethnic identity development and racial socialization in varying context, including young children, adolescents and emerging adults principally among African-American and other ethnic children and families; domestically and also internationally (i.e., Caribbean, Zimbabwean, Australian, and Roma youth). Johnson is the author of more than 90 publications including books, monographs, articles, and chapters. Her last three book volumes look at global and domestic issues of school, prejudice, and child rights. Youth and race are addressed in her recent volume Handbook of Children and Prejudice: Integrating Research, Practice, and Policy (2019) Fitzgerald, H.E., Johnson, D.J., Qin, D.B., Villarruel, F.A., Norder, J. (Eds.). Springer, emphasizes youth and families in global contexts.

---

Ralph Johnson (he/him) is a principle-driven leader and educator dedicated to fostering equity through impactful learning experiences and effective communication. Serving as the Assistant Director for the Education Team in the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, Johnson is committed to advancing the mission and strategic goals of the Education Team, facilitating enriching educational opportunities for students, faculty, staff and the broader MSU community. Additionally, Johnson engages in cultivating and enhancing partnerships across the university, creating and delivering collaborative content and supporting the team in building an inclusive culture at MSU.

Prior to joining IDI, Johnson held various leadership roles in higher education, consistently applying principles of diversity, equity and inclusion. He joined MSU in 2020 as part of the team successfully implementing the Title IX Process Advisor program mandated by Michigan State University's 2030 Presidential Strategic Plan. In this capacity, Johnson championed equity for MSU community members of diverse backgrounds, providing critical process assessments to ensure fairness and effectiveness. With over a decade of experience, Johnson previously served as Assistant Dean for Student Conduct at Calvin University, where he developed and executed educational interventions, fostered inclusive community initiatives and advised university leaders on issues such as anti-racism, cross-cultural communication and inclusive leadership.

An adept facilitator and compelling presenter, Johnson has consulted with corporations on various DEI-related topics and delivered keynote presentations to national and global audiences. He holds a B.S. in behavioral science with a concentration in psychology and a master’s in education specializing in adult learning. Johnson's expertise encompasses facilitation and curriculum development, cross-cultural communication, inclusive leadership, Title IX and anti-discrimination policies, process design and strategic implementation.

---

 

Lynn Lammers (she/her) is the Artistic Coordinator for the Transforming Theatre Ensemble (TTE). She writes, directs, and produces interactive theatre pieces that are used as a focal point for dialogue and learning. Lynn has presented her work on interactive theatre at the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity; the International Globalization, Diversity, and Education Conference; and the LaMaMa Director's Symposium in Umbria, Italy. She is a member of the Lincoln Center Directors Lab and an associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.

Lammers' professional regional theatre work includes directing at Williamston Theatre, Kickshaw Theatre, Flint Repertory Theatre, and Tipping Point Theatre, among others. She has a master’s degree in theatre history, literature, and criticism from MSU.

---

 

Randy Lytes (he/him) serves as the Assistant Director of Equity and Compliance for MSU. In his role, Lytes helps lead the university’s affirmative action/equal employment opportunity (AA/EEO) program and supporting efforts. He supports the strategy and implementation of AA/EEO best practices across the university to ensure that MSU is a transformative, equity-minded, and model institution for inclusive excellence that operates in a manner that is compliant with the law and consistent with institutional values.

Lytes' professional background includes knowledge and experience in HR consulting, HR auditing and compliance, training, education and data analytics, specifically workforce and people analytics. He has worked in several different industries, including higher education, healthcare, insurance and professional services/consulting. Outside of his work at MSU, Lytes serves as an Adjunct Professor for Organizational Leadership at the University of Cincinnati. There, he teaches a course called “Organizational Leadership and the Law” to undergraduate students. Also, he is a board member for Building Equal Bridges, The Tyler Gerth Foundation.

Lytes' educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s in industrial organizational psychology, a master’s in business administration and a graduate certificate in HR management.

---

 

As Director of Equity and Compliance for the Michigan State University, Matthew J. Olovson, J.D. (he/him), serves as the institution’s Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Officer, responsible for designing and administering strategic plans to attain diversity goals, equity in practice and markers of inclusive excellence. His work, auditing, advising and administering programs and activities designed to ensure adherence to equal opportunity laws and related University programs/policies, is instrumental to MSU’s fulfillment of its commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion.   

For more than two decades, Olovson has assisted organizations transform their operations and practices to enhance equity, leverage diversity and build inclusive communities. Prior to appointment with MSU, Olovson served as the Executive Director of Equal Opportunity & Access for the University of Cincinnati, as Director of Equal Opportunity & Staff Attorney for Ferris State University, Assistant Director of Institutional Equity for University of Notre Dame and as Assistant Director of Civil Rights and Institutional Equity for Central Michigan University. Olovson has regularly served as an adjunct professor, most recently with Alma College and Rochester University. His prior professional experience also includes law clerking for Legal Services of South Central Michigan, Prison Legal Services Michigan, the Department of Veterans Affairs and serving as youth counselor in community mental health services.  

As counsel and consultant, Olovson has regularly advised and provided professional development programming to corporations, community service entities and governmental bodies on strategies for navigating cultural transformation, compliance and community building. His expertise in the law and business administration have garnered him success representing clients in varying judicial, administrative, governmental and other legal proceedings. Over the course of his career, he has been an invited keynote speaker and workshop presenter, written the curriculum for a highly acclaimed EEO/AA practitioner certificate program and actively volunteered with several state and national organizations dedicated to community development and the promotion of social justice. He is a zealous advocate for inclusive organizational practice, culturally competent education and justice within and for our communities. 

---

 

Jade Richards (she/her) is the Dialogues Coordinator of MSU Dialogues. She joined the office in 2021 and works with the education team to promote, develop and offer diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

Prior to joining the office, Jade worked as program instructor with MSU Extension, specializing in Mental Health related programs and was Mental Health First Aid Statewide Coordinator. Jade also worked for several years as an ESL teacher in South Korea served in roles that focused on staff training, curriculum development and student engagement.

Jade received her B.A. at Michigan State University in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Health Studies and Psychology.

---

 

Mina Shin, Ph.D. (she/her), is the Training and Learning Development Specialist in the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion. As a member of the education team, she develops and manages the institutional-level online MSU Foundations program for the entire Spartan community, including faculty, staff and students. From curriculum development to facilitation, assessment and consulting, she partners with campus constituents to create high-quality, impactful educational and training programs to support inclusive and positive culture-building at MSU. 

Having worked at MSU as faculty in the College of Arts and Letters and an academic specialist in International Studies and Programs, Shin has extensive experience in teaching, curriculum development, advising, communication, international education and exchange programming and strategic partnership building. She sees herself as a versatile Ph.D. with passion and curiosity who pursues diverse professional experiences and knowledge in many different fields. 

Shin earned a master’s and Ph.D. from the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California and a B.A. in Korean Language Education from Seoul National University in South Korea. 

---

 

Patti Stewart, Ph.D. (she/her) has worked in faculty development and instructional technology at Michigan State University since 2003. In her current role with the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, she provides guidance and structure for learning opportunities that support inclusive and positive culture-building at MSU. This includes designing curriculum; organizing and often facilitating learning experiences; and consulting on educational needs related to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts for faculty, staff and students across the institution.

Stewart’s areas of specialization include curriculum development, educational technology integration and program assessment, with specific skills in the areas of faculty development, media design and online/blended course and program design. Prior to her current position, she has worked in Academic Advancement Network/Faculty and Organizational Development as the Director of Faculty and Instructional Development, in IT Services: Teaching and Learning (formerly Virtual University Design and Technology), the Broad College of Business, and the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at MSU and in marketing and instructional services at Central Michigan University. Patti earned her Ph.D. in educational administration and MA in telecommunications, information and media studies from MSU and BFA in visual communications from Kendall College of Art and Design.

---

Virgi Strickland (she/her) is the Senior Equity, Inclusion and Compliance Analyst in the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion. She is responsible for leading, managing, processing and analyzing large-scale administrative data sets central to institutional policy and legal compliance. Additionally, assuring compliance with AA/EEO for the University through the preparation, maintenance and audit of federally required affirmative action plans. 

Prior to joining MSU, Virgi was the EEO Compliance Analyst for Henry Ford Health in Detroit. As an EEO Compliance Analyst, she ensured compliance and consistency with federal and state anti-discrimination legislation and management directives. In addition, she previously worked for several other employers in the metro Detroit area, where she gained a strong background in managing and supporting a variety of human resource functions including HR system administration, reporting, benefits administration, employee relations and HR system implementation. 

Virgi earned her master's of business administration from Walden University and master's in training and development from Oakland University. 

---

 

Brady Velazquez (she/her) is equity-minded and cares about applying lenses of inclusivity and intersectionality in all she does. In this role, she works closely with other staff to support outreach, engagement and community-serving efforts as well as assisting with institutional policy and legal compliance projects. 

Prior to joining the office, Brady worked in the non-profit sector in project and event management, organizing large scale events to foster community education and engagement opportunities. She has also worked in client services, focusing on process analysis and improvement along with quality assurance that supported staff learning and development. 

Brady received her B.A. at Michigan State University in interdisciplinary studies with a focus on community relations and sociology. She also holds a certification in diversity, equity and inclusion.

---

 

Sam Watson (he/him) is the Executive Assistant to Jabbar R. Bennett, Ph.D., Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer within the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion. Watson facilitates and manages the Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer’s extensive schedule and is the fiscal point person for the office.

Additionally, he interacts with students, faculty, staff, administrators, executives, and the public in support of the office, and Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer. Watson received a bachelor’s degree in communication from Western Michigan University in 2006. Prior to his role with IDI, Watson held similar roles at Lyman Briggs College and The Broad Art Museum.

---